On February 14, 1998, a new fellow came into our lives
and made us a trio.
Now there are Caval Tor Gaelen, Caval Tor Taliesen, and Gail. The boys
are wonderful
and loving. Both Gaelen and Taliesen have their Canadian & UKC Championships. We
don't show too often at ARBA shows. Gaelen won the Canadian SV specialty in 2003
and Taliesen took BOB at two shows in Toronto.
Check out the ad for which the boys posed....courtesy of & designed by Lisa
Croft-Elliott...

Valkyrie.....Valkyra  Happy Wanderers!*Valkyrie is the goddess who escorts Vikings into Valhalla, at
the time of their death

A new tradition has
begun for us! Instead of taking a vacation R&R, we will take V&V....Vallhunds and
Visits. On a cold, crisp February day in Michigan our monthlong adventure began! What a
sight we were....Gail at the wheel, Gaelen standing on the table watching the country whiz
by and Taliesen with back feet on the dinette bench, front paws on Gails shoulders
and head fully resting on top of and turning in tandam with Gails head.
Our first V&V was in Rowlette, texas--Caval Romance. She is
Taliesens beautiful littermate. The three vals romped and ran while the human val
partners visited. Deeper into Texas the boys explored being Princes of the
Desert, running up and over and down and back endless sand dunes until they were
exhausted. At "City of Rocks" park in Lordsburg, NM, the boys posed for a shot
of what we saw as Natures declaration: "SVs are #1!"...so true, so
true.
Onward Ho to find our way onto the top of a mesa in Gila Bend Arizona.
What fun the boys had exploring the arroyos and wondering who were these howling creatures
that came and serenaded at our camper window on those nights...and why cant we go
out and run in the dark, too? We joined a communal campfire and were entranced by the
mesmerizing flames and stories of the fulltimers, here on the escarpment for the entire
winter in their self-made camp.
The second and third V&Vs occurred in Flagstaff and
Clarkdale, AZ, with Caval Desert Sage and Caval Thorin. Stephie,Doreen, & Helen had a
val party with Tiko, the Shiba Inu, as hostess but none of the four SVs would take
time for a good picture. They were too busy running and playing and sniffing and......
Our travel path in Arizona crossed through open range, where animals
had the right of way. From their usual drive-time perch on the dinette table, the boys had
a great view of the camper becoming surrounded by sheep. Suddenly, there were explosions
and jolts within the camper. The boys had become live bouncing balls, jumping
from window to seat to floor to door to me, crying and pleading to get out. Since we were
at a standsill, their exuberance could be enjoyed. They ran from the front to back of the
camper. They lifted their paws in supplication and stared longingly out the window. How
great it would have been to see them in herding action!
The boys did get a chance to sort-of herd wild turkeys...9 hens. It
was wild to watch, especially when, concurrently, three bevies of grouse, in groups of 12
or so, went scurrying hither and yon and back and forth across the turkeys path. It
was like watching "Alice in Wonderland"...so much to herd, no time to do
it....Im late, Im late, Im late!
What days these were! Travel, meet new friends, camp and hike and play
and watch the beauty of a desert sunset and the brilliant crystal clarity of the stars at
night. What companions, friends, and canine ambassadors these two SVs are: bright,
hardy, loving and loyal; gentle and sweet; every ready and adaptable to work or play. They
loved to travel, to visit people and animals, to camp, to run and roll in water and snow,
to cuddle.
In reflection, the boys again conferred gifts on
me, beyond their companionship. They gave me the spirit to find
--zest for the adventures each day brings
--a sense of patience and steadiness...that you can manage the days annoyances and
that the annoyances are but a drop compared to the treasures in life
--a quest to travel all throughout the land doing V&Vs. Already we are
dividing the land into manageable V&V areas! Alaska----we are coming!
North, South, East, and
West.......Swedish Vallhunds are the very best!

This site is completely owned and managed by
Gail Smyka. I do this in gratitude to Cheryl Albert because I
highly respect her and because she was the one who started
me in SV's with my wonderful Boyz, Gaelen & Taliesen.
Gail Smyka